NBA's Allen Iverson is a greater role model than Tiger Woods

The city of Denver got their shiny new Christmas present early: Allen Iverson, the much-maligned Philly point guard who was finally traded after a decade of turbulence with the 76ers and nearly two weeks of exile.

Iverson is one of those sports figures who garners controversy because of hypocritical hack sports writers eager to “Kobe” any star they can once a blemish is found on their record. In reality, between the cornrows and tattoos, he exemplifies more traits I admire than Tiger Woods.

Tiger’s childhood was more or less perfect. He had a mentor in his father and a supportive mother that built a foundation of success. You can’t discount his accomplishments and contributions to charities he’s made. His record is unblemished. Like Tom Brady, he defines “Poster Boy".

Iverson on the other hand exemplifies humanity: error and perseverance. His childhood wasn’t a fairytale of home videos and Ed Sullivan shows. His dad was in and out of jail and Allen’s teenaged years found him in trouble with the law all too often.

Despite being an incredible talent in high school football and basketball, this caused all but one college to shy away, Georgetown, where he went for two years and grew up enough to leave his teenaged decision-making behind before going first overall in the NBA draft.

Iverson plays with a passion every night that only maybe Kevin Garnett could match. There’s also very little that’s “corporate” about him. Commissioner David Stern seems intent on turning the NBA into Disney World with new dress codes and rule changes. They’re also jamming new stars like Lebron and D-Wade down our throats because they might be more “easy on the eyes” to the mainstream. These two, mature beyond their years and role models in their own regard, play all the PR moves correctly.

Iverson on the other hand isn’t a sellout. He won’t censor himself for anyone, unlike so many icons out there afraid to speak their minds for fear of losing endorsement dollars.

Undersized and always underappreciated, Iverson rarely gets the props he deserves despite playing his heart out every night. He’s also a devoted father to his kids, something that can be difficult to find in poorer communities in America. You can’t underestimate his off-the-court influence.

There are more kids out there struggling in school than getting straight A’s. More kids getting in trouble and in danger of going down the wrong path than ones staying a straight course their whole life. For these kids, it’s Iverson’s story they can relate to, not Woods.

Wow, this seemed so inappropriate. Not only is your judgement flawed, but you used this editorial as a vehicle to take shots at Tiger Woods for no reason. Tiger has never proclaimed himself as Grand-High Poobah Role Model of the low income African-American community. He's never talked about how hard he had it growing up. Quite the opposite. He talks about how much he loved his childhood. He's a role model because he embodies the ideals of a champion. Somebody who sets their mind on something and is never satisfied, somebody who always looks to the future and never gets stuck on the past. Tiger Woods is constantly evolving, both in his golf game and in his private life. He's never been content to know he's the best, because the fire in his belly is screaming out to him that he can be even better. Tiger also greatly cherishes his privacy and conducts himself in a controlled and poised manner so as not to invite the media to invade his private life. He exhibits self-control, a quality sorely lacking in today's world. All too often when you see privledged people grow up, they grow into spoiled self-righteous adults who fall victim to indulgences, but Tiger Woods has avoided all those pitfalls in his struggle to be better than himself.
Iverson may seem more "human" because of his flaws, but to me those flaws mean that he hasn't overcome anything from his past. He's still just a thug. Yes, he has talent, and yes, he plays hard, but his lack of respect for the very institution that has allowed him to rise above the poverty of his youth, which you so cavalierly toss off as him being his own man and refusing to give in, is nothing to be admired. His job is to play basketball in a manner dictated by the NBA. They employ him. In any other job when you act so foolishly and disrespectfully toward your employer you get FIRED. What kind of lesson is that to kids that you can say and do what you want with no real consequences? He's still a millionaire with his face on TV. Without self-control or any real concept of respect, he's just a clown jumping around for everybody to laugh at.

I never discredited Tiger in this blog. My point is sometimes Tiger appears too "perfect" and looking at someone with obvious flaws who has succeeded still can be more endearing to us. AI's an underdog, while Tiger never could be.

Tiger did have it easier, no doubt. Earl even called Tiger's step-siblings his "practice family." AI had a bunch of run-ins with the law in HS, which led to the back-up square dance from every college coach but Georgetown's John Thompson. Here is the big question: what do they do that defines them as role models, and as role models for whom? Is Tiger urban? No. Is AI suburban? No. Role models fit niches, just as every blankety-blank one of us fits a niche.

Please Brandon, stick to golf-gossip. Social engineering does not become you. Ask the single mom in Harlem working three jobs to help get her children through college who she wants as a role model for her sons.

Both AI and Twoods are example of will, creativity, desire to win, and of passion for doing what they love, but Twoods takes it a step further you sense that he is an adult. He has learned that he is in command of his own demons and he attacks them just as any golf shot. He uses golf and its training to continually become a better human being. This is what most working people admire. We understand that we can still show all the will, creativity , desire to win and passion in a controlled manner while continually trying to become better human beings in an adult fashion. We are abhorred by the idea that we need to be thuglike in order to be good at what we do. Unfortunately, this is the message that AI projects to his many followers. AI like Woods have created and popularize new ideas in basketball understanding. Those of us who watches AI marvel at his creative genius. However we want AI to send the message to everyone, the importance of improving as a human being. Kids should understand the laws of entropy. By Allen exhibiting as a thug he underscores that entropy the disorder in existence. The rewards that comes from this exercise rarely lift anyone from their circumstance. It is more likely to penalize them further. However the hard hours of practice and dedication and discipline are the inputs that are needed to overcome this disorder and to begin to establish an individual as their own personal creation. This is actual growth akin to polishing a diamond. Some how with AI we feel that he is lucky to be where he is both as a basketball talent and as a celebrity whereas with Twoods we sense that he has earned it.

Your column, your opinions. And if you respect A.I. more than Tiger, your opinion. But I caution against telling us WHO grew up with problems and who didnt. Not everything is as it looks on the surface, some of us make more problems than we have to, others conceal things about them they think aren't anyone's business.

I really don't like using that broad stroke to tell us who has it "easy" and who is more deserving than the other.

"Iverson on the other hand isn't a sellout. He won't censor himself for anyone, unlike so many icons out there afraid to speak their minds for fear of losing endorsement dollars. "

As someone who has lived in Black skin all my life, emigrated to this country & dealt with all the nuances that entails, I have to say this statement is dumb.

One more tidbit, You call Iverson a paragon of respectability because he isnt afraid to disrespect authority, kick his wife out on the street without her clothes on, and publicly cheat on the woman.

Thats fine because as I said up top: its your personal scale, but dont start throwing around words like "sellout" lightly when referring to how 2 Black (mixed African American heritage) athletes have conducted themselves in the public eye. You have no CLUE who has really sold out to comprising their values, doing what is easier because it would be harder than challenging yourself to be something more than you were.

I understand you want to be controversial, take your shots at Tiger & also novel in showing us the 'good' side of an athlete thats been reviled in media in years past, but please do so with more responsibility. You dont have to create ways to justify why you want to like Iverson as opposed to Tiger, just state that you do.

Brandon Tucker took the reins as Managing Editor of Courses and Travel for GolfChannel.com in 2011. Prior to that, he had been with the TravelGolf Network since 2006. While Brandon continues to chime in here with insights on golf courses, travel and more, you can also find his work at GolfChannel.com's Travel Insider blog and follow him on Twitter here.

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